Tottenham have stepped up their efforts to sign Brentford skipper Nathan Collins
Tottenham Hotspur have been on the hunt for an attacking midfielder even before James Maddison’s serious knee injury.
Spurs were keen on signing Morgan Gibbs-White, but Nottingham Forest blocked the move. This resulted in them shifting their focus on signing Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze. The north London club had progress in landing the prolific attacker, with Eze agreeing personal terms. Daniel Levy also met with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to wrap up a deal quickly.
However, all the efforts went in vain on Wednesday night when arch-rivals Arsenal came out of nowhere and hijacked the Eze deal. This came as a big blow for Tottenham, denying Thomas Frank of his main No.10 target.
In addition to a creative midfielder, the Lilywhites also remain in the market for a central defender. This is despite Cristian Romero committing himself to the club by signing a new lucrative deal until 2029.
Tottenham to battle Liverpool for Brentford skipper
Recent reports suggest Tottenham have upped their ante to sign Brentford skipper Nathan Collins. The centre-back is under contract with Brentford until 2029, which makes any potential transfer difficult, with new boss Keith Andrews eager to not lose any more key players after a summer of radical changes at the club.
Nathan Collins has been a solid performer for the Bees since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2023. He played every minute in the Premier League last season and has been appointed as the west London club’s new captain following Christian Norgaard’s move to Arsenal. The Republic of Ireland international’s displays at the back have also caught the attention of English champions Liverpool, who view him as an alternative target to Marc Guehi.
Now, former Aston Villa, Everton and Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness has given an update on Collins’ future at the Gtech Community Stadium. He claims Brentford could brace offers for their newly-appointed skipper before the transfer window slams shut, with both Spurs and Liverpool highly regarding the 24-year-old.
“I know Keith Andrews is going to be hating us,” Keith Wyness said on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
“I mean, all we’re talking about is Brentford players and this is their captain now as well. He’s no doubt a player that is very well thought of and he’s only 24.
“He’s a great young talent and I think Liverpool, he’s there as a backup in case Guehi doesn’t come from Crystal Palace.
“I think Spurs would love him alongside Micky van de Ven, and that would give them one potent back line as well.
“So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spurs come in for that one as well. I mean, he’s a talent.
“I think Brentford are going to have to gird their loins for some serious attacks from two or three clubs coming up towards the end of the window.”
Nathan Collins would improve Tottenham’s depth in defence
Collins has gained considerable amount of Premier League experience in recent years with Burnley, Wolves and Brentford. The Irishman has performed well over two seasons at Brentford and should be tempted to compete at the highest level, with both Spurs and Liverpool capable of offering Champions League football this term.
As for Spurs, Frank, who coached Collins at the Gtech Community Stadium for two years, could play a decisive role in luring him to north London. In the Leixlip-born talent, the Lilywhites could get a strong back-up option for Romero, who struggled with injury problems during the previous campaign. He is also comfortable operating in a back three system and can unlock his true potential under Frank.
However, with less than 12 days remaining for the transfer window to slam shut, it would be extremely difficult for Tottenham to persuade the Bees to sell one of their most important players. Nonetheless, Spurs could at least test the waters with a cheeky bid for Collins.
